Interchangeable sign frame



April 1963 H. LADBURY 3,084,464

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN FRAME Filed Feb. 23, 1961 FIG.I F|G\2 F l G. 3

INVENTOR United States Patent 3,084,464 ENTERCHANGEABLE SIGN FRAME Harry E... Ladbury, Longmout, Colo. (19875 iPearl St, Denver 33, Colo.) Filer; Feb. 23, 1961, Ser- No. 91,280 2 Elaims. (tCl. id-142) This invention relates to a frame for interchangeable signs, more particularly to a frame with provision for displaying interchangeable characters of different sizes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and attractive sign frame which can be used elficiently to display interchangeable letters, numerals, lines and pictures of different sizes on a substantially flat surface.

Additional objects and benefits of this invention will become evident from a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a frame embodying my invention. FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on line AA of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of a vertical sect-ion, showing a slot in the base with the insert removed therefrom.

Referring specifically to the drawing, an interchangeable sign frame made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include the base of the frame, 2, preferably of rectangular shape with molding 3, slots 4 disposed transversely in spaced substantially parallel rows in said base, which slots are adapted to fr-iotionally hold supporting strips 1a to lg inclusive. Said supporting strips can be depressed into said slots to form a substantially fiat area on a selected portion of the surface of said base, as supporting strips 1b, -1c and 1d of FIGURE 2, or can be impelled upward so as to project from the surface of said base, as supporting stn'ps ila, 1e, 1 and 1g of FIG- URE 2, far enough to releasably engage and hold in place plates 4a, 4b or 40, containing letters, numbers, words or other characters.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. On the sign frame illustrated in the drawing there are plates containing characters of three different sizes. Using one space as the measure of distance between two adjacent parallel rows of supporting strips, plate 4a is four spaces high; plate 4b is three spaces high, and plates 40 are one space high. If the plates to be displayed in the frame are one space high, such as plates 40, two adjacent parallel rows of supporting strips, such as If and 1g, are impelled upward so that they project from the surface of the base, in which position they engage the ends of plate 40, which is then held in place between said parallel rows of supporting strips 1 and 1g. When the plates to be displayed in the frames are four spaces high, such as 4a, supporting strips 1b, 1c and 1d are depressed into their respective slots in the surface of said base to form a substantially flat area beneath plate 4a, and supporting strips 1a and 1e are impelled upward so that they project from the surface of said base, in which position they engage and hold in place the ends of plate 44;, i

3,084,464 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, and while various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A frame for interchangeable signs, comprising in combination, a base with a plurality of spaced slots, cross sections of which are T shaped, in the surface thereof, disposed transversely in substantially parallel rows, and a plurality of supporting strips, cross sections of which are T shaped, which are frictionally held in and normally remain in said slots, which supporting strips in one position project from said slots, in which position the cross of the Ts of two parallel rows of such supporting strips are adapted to engage and hold in position interchangeable letters, lines or other characters, selected rows or partial rows of which supporting strips can be depressed completely into said slots where they conceal said slots and form a substantially flat area on a selected portion of the surface of said base, on which interchangeable letters, numerals, lines, pictures or other characters larger than the space between two adjacent rows of supporting strips, can be placed in substantially flat position and held in place by said two non-adjacent projecting rows of supporting strips.

2. A frame for interchangeable signs, comprising in combination, a base with a plurality of spaced slots in the surface thereof disposed transversely in substantially parallel rows, and a plurality of supporting strips cross sections of which, except for slightly extended shanks, are substantially the same size and shape as cross sections of said slots which are frictionally held in and normally remain in said slots, which supporting strips, in one position project from said slots, in which position two parallel rows of such supporting strips are adapted to engage and hold in position interchangeable letters, lines or other characters, selected rows or partial rows of which supporting strips can be depressed completely into said slots where they conceal said slots and to form a substantially flat area on a selected portion of the surface of said base, on which interchangeable letters, numerals, lines, pictures or other characters larger than the space between two adjacent rows of supporting strips, can be placed in substantially flat position and held in place by said two non-adjacent projecting rows of supporting strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,270 Marks Sept. 25, 1866 2,587,368 Murphy Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,493 Great Britain July 16, 1892 ,'f"'." .TTT"."." 

1. A FRAME FOR INTERCHANGEABLE SIGNS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BASE WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED SLOTS, CROSS SECTIONS OF WHICH ARE T SHAPED, IN THE SURFACE THEREOF, DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ROWS, AND A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING STRIPS, CROSS SECTIONS OF WHICH ARE T SHAPED, WHICH ARE FRICTIONALLY HELD IN AND NORMALLY REMAIN IN SAID SLOTS, WHICH SUPPORTING STRIPS IN ONE POSITION PROJECT FROM SAID SLOTS, IN WHICH POSITION THE CROSS OF THE T''S OF TWO PARALLEL ROWS OF SUCH SUPPORTING STRIPS ARE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND HOLD IN POSITION INTERCHANGEABLE LETTERS, LINES OR OTHER CHARACTERS, SELECTED ROWS OR PARTIAL ROWS OF WHICH SUPPORTING STRIPS CAN BE DEPRESSED COMPLETELY INTO SAID SLOTS WHERE THEY CONCEAL SAID SLOTS AND FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AREA ON A SELECTED PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID BASE, ON WHICH INTERCHANGEABLE LETTERS, NUMERALS, LINES, PICTURES OR OTHER CHARACTERS LARGER THAN THE SPACE BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT ROWS OF SUPPORTING STRIPS, CAN BE PLACED IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT POSITION AND HELD IN PLACE BY SAID TWO NON-ADJACENT PROJECTING ROWS OF SUPPORTING STRIPS. 